Efforts by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to achieve positive outcomes for Oregonians are, in part, strengthened by the thousands of background checks it conducts each year. The centralized approach to checking employees, volunteers and providers gives consistent, efficient support to the department's myriad programs.

The 2007 Oregon Legislature authorized DHS to use abuse and neglect information, in addition to criminal history checks already being accomplished, to screen applicants for positions as employees or volunteers with DHS, and at a later date, providers of services or care who are licensed, certified, or otherwise regulated by DHS. Because of the addition of abuse and neglect reports to the background check process, the DHS Criminal Records Unit (CRU) is changing its name to the DHS Background Check Unit (BCU).